Don’t tax, just provide resaonably priced options

SIR,

We all pay taxes. There is a purpose to this exercise. We can provide services for our citizens with the income thus gathered. We mightn’t like paying but we get the concept – the system is fair if it is based on income .

Recent taxes like carbon tax and the property tax, also known as a wealth tax, appear to have strayed from this principle. You may be quite poor but if you looked after you own shelter and purchased your home, then the government says you are wealthy and you must pay ‘the wealth tax’.

It’s not logical but it’s the law. We have carbon taxes and they are going to rise in the near future. We have to reduce harmful emissions into our damaged atmosphere; no argument here.

Agriculture, industry and aviation pollute in multiples of the householder’s contribution, so why is the homeowner being targetted?

Those living in large towns and cities already pay a premium on their smokeless coal. They are doing their bit and being penalised for it. Oil is also a pollutant. Unless you have the cash and are building your house now, then other environmentally-friendly options are not feasible.

Many have coughed up over the years to insulate their homes in a better way. Double glazing and thicker and more efficient insulation have been installed by many of us.

The carbon tax won’t make us improve our heat retention any more than we already have. It appears to be a ‘show tax’ which will hit the less well off in society. If you are ‘wealthyish’ it won’t bother you too much. So the poor will be penalised for no logical reason.

Provide alternative fuels, more healthy for our planet and, of course, we will all get in line; it’s a no brainer. Who wants to damage our children’s future ?

Motorists would swap their current petrol or diesel cars for electric or the more practical hybrids, if such an opportunity was available.

Quite possibly the government has tax rises in mind for these vehicles in the not too distant future. They will, of course, want us to act quicker to save the environment but can we? It will take 25 years or so before a plentiful second hand supply of these vehicles is available. We can’t all afford to purchase a new car.

So my message to government is to remember we are not all affluent and we will do our bit if reasonably priced options are available. So don’t tax, provide! Sincerely,

Gerry Cournane, Tralee.